Master of Science Physician Assistant Program Diversity and Inclusion

The College of Mount Saint Vincent demonstrates its commitment to student, faculty, and staff diversity and inclusion by supporting the program in defining its goal(s) for diversity and inclusion.

The College’s Statement on Catholic Tradition states very clearly on the topic of diversity and inclusion: “The College of Mount Saint Vincent is a liberal arts college rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the mission of its founders, the Sisters of Charity.” It continues: “…to share in the ongoing mission of Jesus by responding to the signs of the times…and by revealing God’s love in our lives and in our varied ministries with and for all in need, especially the poor. Built on this foundation, the College is committed to excellence in all things, truth and integrity at all times, and respect for human dignity in all dimensions of the ethical and moral way of life. This identity is lived out in our faith, academic, and community lives.”

Regarding Diversity and Inclusion within faith practices, it is stated: “While the College recognizes its connection with the universal Catholic Church, at the same time, it welcomes students, faculty, and staff of all religious traditions and of no religious tradition as valued members of this community of study and dialogue. As each person deepens his/her personal relationship with God, we are all enriched.”

A very important area of diversity and inclusion revolves around the concept of academic life. Here, the dialogue is specific within the Statement on Catholic Identity as it clearly and unequivocally states: “The College respects multiculturalism, welcomes people from diverse ethnic, religious, and philosophical traditions, and invites reflective study of these traditions.”

When any student, faculty, or staff member discusses diversity and inclusion, it must also stress the need for open discussion and dialogue within those groups or individuals. Every student, faculty, and staff member must feel that their commitment to their personal ideals and ethics must be respected. To this end, the Statement on Catholic Identity with regard to the community advances the following verbiage: “The College, faithful to the liberal arts tradition, promotes appropriate discussion of questions of meaning and value. It maintains a strong values orientation that is consistent with the spirit of the founders, the Sisters of Charity, and the history of Catholic social thought. In this regard, it is committed to social justice and encourages a spirit of service in all its constituencies. The College expects all its members—faculty, staff, and students—to uphold high ethical standards. Students are encouraged to develop a strong system of values and a robust set of ethical principles that will help them make reflective, compassionate decisions, rooted in personal integrity and responsibility toward others. The commitment of the College is further directed to fostering respect for the dignity of each individual through a university-wide effort to build a community that is personally and socially enriching.”

The College of Mount Saint Vincent community is composed of individuals of different races, ethnicities, religions, culture, and ways of thinking. Mount Saint Vincent respects individual differences and unique perspectives as we acknowledge our commonalities. All Mount Saint Vincent publications include a nondiscrimination statement, which currently reads: “In fulfillment of its Mission and in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local law, the College of Mount Saint Vincent does not discriminate in its employment practices or in admission or access to the College’s educational programs and services on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, citizenship, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or marital status.”

The College of Mount Saint Vincent Master of Science Physician Assistant Program has formulated definitive policies and procedures, which are clear in design and non-ambiguous in their verbiage. These policies and procedures are outlined within the CMSV Policies and Procedure Manual, which is distributed to every incoming PA student, faculty, and staff member during the week-long program orientation. Students, as well as faculty and staff, are encouraged to ask questions and raise concerns regarding these policies. Open discussion is encouraged at this meeting. Some of the policies include:

• CMSV 111 Faculty Grievance Procedure
• CMSV 201 Student Rights
• CMSV 305 Student Ethical and Legal Standard
• CMSV 306 Guidelines for Ethical Conduct and Behavior
• CMSV 502 Students with Disabilities and Reasonable Accommodations
• CMSV 603 Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault
• CMSV 604 Discrimination, Non-Sexed Based Harassment, and Retaliation

As with all discussion on diversity and inclusion, it is important that the College community openly discuss public policy issues and concerns. The College of Mount Saint Vincent, through its Fishlinger Center for Public Policy Research, states in its Mission Statement: “The Center will enable students, faculty and staff to become trained, involved, and engaged in public policy and research; will elevate and extend the College’s brand by increasing awareness and recognition of the College as a premier source for current public opinion research and analysis, and will enhance the reciprocal relationship between the College, its students, faculty, administration, and alumni and the broader community and its public policy issues.”

In addition, academic programs that address diversity and inclusion include, but are not limited to, EDUC 502 – Foundations of Urban and Multicultural Education and EDUC 506 – Language, Cognitive Development, and Cultural Diversity. Read more course descriptions. College departments, academic programs, and other Mount Saint Vincent divisions and offices may include diversity and inclusion in their mission statements, objectives, and outcomes.

As an example of the College’s commitment to the conversation regarding diversity and inclusion, the Student Government Association (SGA) held a Virtual Symposium with the Rev. Al Sharpton on racism, diversity, and cultural awareness. During the symposium, discussions were centered around recent cases that have ignited and inspired the conversation of race and police brutality. Discussion also revolved around learning about criminal justice reforms and how we can get our students, professors, and staff involved in combating racial inequality, prejudice, and discrimination, while embracing diversity and tolerance.

Clubs and Organizations

• Model United Nations is a forum for students interested in debate, research, and global issues. It serves as a platform for addressing global concerns in a real-world context.
• Black Student Union is a social and cultural club to educate and spread awareness about African American history and the African American experience. The Union provides opportunities for guest speakers, show documentaries, open discussions related to the African American culture, social issues, and awareness.